Pleasant Valley (town), New York

Pleasant Valley is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 9,066 at the 2000 census.

The Town of Pleasant Valley is centrally located in the county, northeast of the City of Poughkeepsie. US Route 44 passes through the town.

History

Settlers began arriving after 1735. The town was part of the Great Nine Partners Patent of 1697, a land grant whose legality was considered highly questionable. Many believed that the "Nine Partners" were holding unfair rule over the region through the use of extortion and threats of violence.The town was formed in 1821 from part of the Town of Clinton. Its name was chosen to deflect suspicion due to the infamous Henry Dodson Murder Case, in which the town councilman was found brutally slain, with rumors that he had opposed the Patent on grounds of its dubious legality.

Past residents of note

Melancton Smith, delegate to the ratification of the U.S Constitution.

Irene McGee, cast member of

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.2 square miles (86.1 km²), of which, 32.9 square miles (85.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it (0.96%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 9,066 people, 3,467 households, and 2,485 families residing in the town. The population density was 275.4 people per square mile (106.3/km²). There were 3,614 housing units at an average density of 109.8/sq mi (42.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.46% White, 1.93% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.65% of the population.

There were 3,467 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $54,578, and the median income for a family was $62,264. Males had a median income of $47,647 versus $31,496 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,942. About 3.9% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Pleasant Valley

*Clark Heights -- A location southwest of Pleasant Valley village on Route 44.
*Gretna -- A location in the western part of the town.
*Netherwood -- A location southwest of Salt Point.
*Pleasant Valley -- The hamlet of Pleasant Valley is in the southwest part of the town on Route 44. It was formerly called "Charlotte."
*Salt Point -- A hamlet near the northeast town line.
*Timothy Heights -- A location south of Pleasant Valley village on Route 44.
*Valleydale -- A development Northeast of Pleasant Valley off Traver Road.
*Washington Hollow -- A hamlet near the east town line. It was the former location of the Dutchess County Fair.

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.pleasant-valley.ny.us/ Town of Pleasant Valley]
* [http://www.pleasantvalleylibrary.org/ Pleasant Valley Free Library]